Bag handle structure



June 22, 1965 J. H. VINEBERG 3,190,538

BAG HANDLE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 1, 1963 United States Patent 3,19tl,538BAG HANDLE STRUETURE Joseph H. Vineherg, 235 Somerset St. W., Ottawa,Gntario, Canada Filed Get. 1, 1963, er. No. 312,973 ll (Claim. (Cl.22954) This invention relates to bags and more particularly to handlestructures therefor.

The provision of inexpensive handle devices for conventional paper andlike bags has long been recognized as a desirable feature in thepackaging field. However, while the conventional bag, especially in thelarger sizes thereof and in cases where bulky or heavy articles arepackaged therein, is an awkward ohg'ect to handle in the absence of ahandle, it has been most diiiicult to provide a satisfactory handlewithout unduly increasing the cost of the bag.

It is an object of this invention to provide a handle structure for abag which is of inexpensive manufacture, which may be incorporated in aconventional bag without substantially increasing the cost thereof, andwhich possesses the necessary strength for effective and satisfactoryuse.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bag closurearrangement for a conventional bag which includes a handle of low costmanufacture, such handle being capable of convenient association withthe bag.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bag closurearrangement for a conventional bag which includes a handle forconvenient association with the bag and which incorporates simpleauxiliary closing means.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevation of a bag andhandle structure in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a section on line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the handle blank,

FlGURE 4 is a side elevation of a modified bag and handle structure,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a bag to which the handle is to beapplied, and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional end elevation of the handle structure applied tothe bag of FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, 10 is a conventional bag of sheetmaterial such as paper, plastic composition or the like, having opposedside walls ill. and a mouth 12.

A handle in accordance with the invention comprises a unitary blank 13of sheet material, such as cardboard, plastic, and the like, suchmaterial being usually of greater thickness and rigidity than thematerial from which the bag is formed. The blank 13 is rectangular inform and doubled upon itself along a fold line 14 midway between theends thereof to provide two opposed sections 15 of substantiallyidentical size. Each section has a handhole 16 therein formed bypartially severing a flap 17 therefrom, such handholes being alignedwhen the sections 15 are in opposed relation.

The handle described is associated with the bag 10 by providing alignedslits 13 in the walls 11, each such slit being parallel to the mouth ofthe bag and closely adjacent thereto. Each slit has a lengthapproximately equal to the width of the sections 115, and is disposedmidway between the edges of the wall ill.

It is contemplated that the handle 13 may be either fixed to the bag foruse as desired, or provided as a separate member for association withthe bag at the time of use.

In the former case, a handle section 15 is passed ddddbidd Patented June22, 1965 through a slit 1% to dispose fold line 14 in engagement withthe upper edge of slit 1% and the other or outer section 15 is securedas by adhesive 19 to the bag wall. Thereafter, when the bag has beenused to package articles and it is desired to close the same and arrangethe handle in carrying position, the free handle section 15 is passedthrough the slit E8 of the other bag wall, the two sections broughttogether and the flaps 17 folded, as shown in FIGURE 2, whereby the handmay be passed through the aligned handholes It will be apparent that thehandhole-containing portions or the sections 15' are disposed above thebag rnouth. Thus, the distance between each slit l8 and the bag mouth isnot more than the distance between the fold line 14 and the adjacentedge of handhole to.

If desired, in order to complete the closure of the bag, each mouthcorner may be tucked inwardly as indicated at 20.

As previously indicated, the handle 13 may be provided separately forassociation with a bag having slits 13 therein this instance, the bag isclosed by bringing its walls it together, and passing the handle throughthe aligned slits 18 to position it as shown in FEGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a modified bag closure arrangement for use with aWider type of conventional bag 21 having side walls 22 and a wide mouth23. The handle 13 is associated therewith in the same manner aspreviously described with reference to FIGURES l and 2. The closure iscompleted by employing auxiliary fastening means Such fastening meansmay take various well known forms, such as snap fasteners, staples andthe like. That shown comprises simply aligned holes 25 in the bag wallsand a length of cord 26 which is passed through the holes and tied.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate a slightly modified form wherein a bag 27With walls 23 has slits 29 therein spaced a substantial distance fromthe mouth of the bag whereby the adjoining wall portions are doubledupon themselves as indicated at 30 and 31 to add strength to thecarrying handle 13.

I claim:

A bag comprising a pair of opposed side walls, each said side wallhaving an edge defining a bag mouth and a handle consisting of a unitaryrectangular blank of flexible material havinga pair of substantiallyidentical opposed sections defined by a transverse fold line locatedsubstantially midway between the ends of said blank, each of said sidewalls having a slit therein substantially parallel to said edge, saidslits being aligned, said blank extending through said slit of one saidside Wall with said fold line in substantial contact with an edge ofsaid last-mentioned slit and said blank sections being disposed onopposite sides of said one side wall, one of said blank sections beingadhesively secured to said one side wall, said blank sections havingabutting portions projecting beyond said bag walls, each said abuttingportion having a flap partially severed therefrom and forming ahandhole, said handholes being aligned.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,050,967 8/ 36Farmer 229-54 2,400,759 5/46 Katz 22954 2,437,072 3/48 Campbell 229523,027,066 3/62 Vineberg 22954 3,115,294 12/63 Gatward 22952 FRANKLIN T.GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

